Wireless - what have I done wrong?!

zerodashzero

I'm at my wits end - please could someone help?

I bought a Netgear Wireless-N 150 Modem Router DGN1000 this weekend but cannot for the life of me figure out why my laptop refuses to connect with it wirelessly.

I am a complete novice with Techie stuff but managed to install OK (I think). The signal is strong but when I click to connect I get the message "windows cannot connect to xxxx". I am currently using the ethernet cable which is far from ideal.

I'm sure there will be a very simple answer to fix this (a simple tick box I expect) but after hours of searching online I can't find a solution. Please help?!

The laptop is an Advent running on Windows 7
Netgear Wireless-N 150 Modem Router DGN1000

Any ideas?

Dave101t

would the firewall require you to list the device as an exception?
is there a 'wireless' button on the laptop you need to press to activate the field?
and dont knock the ethernet cable it always works when the wireless fails!
in the network connections box when using ethernet, try right clicking on the ethernet cable and 'bridging the connections' if it will let you?

KillerWatt

Have you selected the same level of security on the PC as what the router is running (eg,WPA, WPA2-PSK, etc)?
Are you entering the correct passphrase?

[Deleted User]

Hi,

have you got your wireless switched on, F9 on my lappy?

Edit: too slow.

martinthebandit

i think that (certainly on some advent laptops) you need to hold down the fn and the f1 keys to enable the wireless.

If it does there will be a little light come on somewhere.

HTH

KillerWatt

martinthebandit wrote: »

i think that (certainly on some advent laptops) you need to hold down the fn and the f1 keys to enable the wireless.

If it does there will be a little light come on somewhere.

HTH

The wireless radio is already enabled on the OP's laptop, if it wasn't then they wouldn't be able to see their router to start with so wouldn't get the message they are getting.

zerodashzero

Aaarrggh. I just wrote a lengthy reply & lost it.

Thanks for all the responses! The wireless is automatically enabled. When I click on the icon it shows all the nearby networks (a lot because I live in an apartment). Mine is at the top of the list at full strength. If I click on my one it attempts to connect but then says "windows cannot connect".

It doesn't ask for a password (assuming it is saved within the laptop?). If I click on other networks it asks.

I previously used a 1st edition home hub (borrowed from the parents) which connected fine (same as above).

No idea about firewalls. Nothing requested by the laptop...
No idea about bridging - doesn't seem to be an option.

zerodashzero

Security is set at "medium-high" apparently. Again, no mention of WEP / WAP. I have set the router to WAP2.

free4440273

just make sure -- if any security is enabled ---- as a test i mean -- knock of all security and wep keys and see what happens //

KillerWatt

Open the Network & Sharing Centre, select the option to "Manage Wireless networks", right click on your network, select properties, click on the "Security" tab, and enter the password there along with the encryption level you are using.

zerodashzero

KillerWatt wrote: »

Open the Network & Sharing Centre, select the option to "Manage Wireless networks", right click on your network, select properties, click on the "Security" tab, and enter the password there along with the encryption level you are using.

Thank you - The security key / password is already saved in there. The encryption type is AES, is that correct?


I'm not entirely sure how to knock off all the security, and in such a high traffic area would that be a good idea? Or wouldn't it matter as I'm using the cable? (But my laptop still has the wireless light activated).